Pilipino, along with its Bahasa-based cousins, is one of the easiest languages to comprehend (take note: “comprehend” versus “learn”)…but only when you familiarize yourself with the linguistic nitty gritty.
Making second language edification fun and exciting, three young gentlemen established a web-based language learning program for non-native Pilipino speakers minus the mundane exercises characterized in commercial foreign language courses…and plus the comedy.
This is infotainment with a creative pinch.
Co-host and co-founder, Jovitt Trinidad, recently shared with me their latest episode and was kind enough to throw in a shout out to Greater Good Philippines. Beyond returning the favor, I found the episode “Kumain ka na ba?” entertaining and informative and figured sharing it to others.
The KalyeSpeak website states that (the site) is practical, fun, even entertaining at times. We will not bore you with textbook dictation and miles and miles of memorization. Our lessons get right down to the vernacular — just as how it is spoken in the street.
KalyeSpeak are Jovitt, Cris Garcia and Mickey Ingles.
Again, I go outside the scope of Greater Good to bring something trivial (and interesting–which remains questionable) to beloved visitors of this site.
Urban legend has it that for every case of Red Horse, there is a bottle of what many call a Happy Horse. This can be distinguished by an ostensibly smiling horse on the logo of the lager.
People claim that Happy Horse has a higher alcohol content, thus, brings a more considerable punch compared to its regular counterpart.
Here are some truths behind this lore:
(more…)
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree is a song by Tony Orlando and Dawn released in 1973. The gesture itself spans time, geographies and cultures.
A Wikipedia entry states:
The origin of the idea of a yellow ribbon as a token of remembrance may have been the 19th century practice that some women allegedly had of wearing a yellow ribbon in their hair to signify their devotion to a husband or sweetheart serving in the U.S. Cavalry - the official color of the cavalry is yellow (worn on insignia, etc.), and the song “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” which later inspired the John Wayne movie of the same name, is a reference to this.
The symbol of a yellow ribbon became widely known in civilian life in the 1970s as a reminder of an absent loved one, either in the military or in jail that they would be welcomed home on their return. In Singapore, an initiative by the Singapore Prison Service to generate social acceptance of ex-offenders is named the Yellow Ribbon Project, having drawn inspiration from the song’s title.
The song plays a larger role in the Philippine setting as it, and the yellow motif, “became synonymous with Ninoy and was very much visible during anti-Marcos protests. In 1986, his widow Corazon Aquino used the yellow motif to her advantage and the opposition’s during the 1986 snap elections, which swept her to the presidency after the EDSA People Power Revolution.”
Here’s is a link to the speech given by Mrs. Corazon Aquino before the members of the U.S. Congress on September 18, 1986–enduring words from one of the country’s most venerable icons. As the blogger, Chuvachienes, has stated in his (her?) post, the speech should be treated as an authoritative academic material for English, and Political and Social Science courses.
Many would probably castigate me for having to live by this quote, but I attest to the power of these words…”focus on what you have, not on what you lack”. The concept is only arbitrary, and not applicable in all situations. Entrepreneurs for example won’t abide by this as the notion of “lack” drives them to innovate, create and develop new products and services.
But let me share a story, nonetheless, of how I have overcome one of the lowest moments of my life. The following is culled from my Multiply site.
Read more of Documenting Australia — Chapter 4: “Focus on what you have, not on what you lack”.On Monday afternoon after class at Q block, the Communication and Sciences building, I contacted her. And I reeled, after the short conversation. I thought I was doing ok…but having heard from her, I slipped in to relapse.
I told her how beautiful Toowoomba was…and how sad that no loved one was there to share it with.
Eventually I heard from the whole family through email. They got my cell number and would text me from time to time. During the course of my stay in Australia, I would make contact with them very seldomly so as to avoid missing them.
My dad got hold of my homesickness issue. One cold afternoon after class, I was walking back to the dorm when I got a text message from him…and that would forever keep me stronger and help me face all hardships that I would encounter with steadfastness.
“This is what I have right now,” I told myself. “And it’s fleeting. I might as well cherish the hardship for it will go sooner than I expect.”
I remember having a conversation with friends when a particular question has been brought up. Has there been a moment in your life that you have been told the right message by the right person at the right time?
Mine was that..from my dad…he said, “Focus on what you have, not on what you lack”.To this day, I still live by it…it’s hard but I try.
